Broncos 16, Chargers 13 (OT)

DENIS POROY: AP
STRONG-ARMING IT: Tim Tebow led the Broncos to a victory with more than his legs Sunday, when he passed for 143 yards.

DENIS POROY: AP
STRONG-ARMING IT: Tim Tebow led the Broncos to a victory with more than his legs Sunday, when he passed for 143 yards.

Photo: Denis Poroy

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Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow prays with members of both teams after their overtime win against the San Diego Chargers in an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) less

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow prays with members of both teams after their overtime win against the San Diego Chargers in an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny ... more

Photo: Lenny Ignelzi

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Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) runs under pressure from San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Travis LaBoy during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Lenny Ignelzi) less

Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) runs under pressure from San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Travis LaBoy during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in San Diego. (AP ... more

Photo: Lenny Ignelzi

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Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater (5) celebrates his game-winning field goal with long snapper Lonie Paxton, right, and tight end Virgil Green, rear, during overtime in a NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson) less

Denver Broncos kicker Matt Prater (5) celebrates his game-winning field goal with long snapper Lonie Paxton, right, and tight end Virgil Green, rear, during overtime in a NFL football game against the San Diego ... more

Photo: Chris Carlson

Broncos 16, Chargers 13 (OT)

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SAN DIEGO - Tim Tebow wasn't watching as San Diego's Nick Novak lined up to attempt a 53-yard field goal that would have given San Diego an overtime victory over Denver.

"I might have said that. Or maybe a block. Maybe all of it," the Broncos quarterback said with a laugh.

Whatever, it worked.

Novak missed wide right. Tebow moved Denver down the field, and Matt Prater kicked a 37-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in overtime Sunday to lift the Broncos over the Chargers, who have lost six consecutive games for the first time in 10 years.

Some people have a problem with Tebow wearing his religion on his sleeve. But he has been a savior for the Broncos, going 5-1 since coach John Fox elevated him to starter in the wake of his performance in a close loss to San Diego on Oct. 9 in Denver.

The Broncos (6-5) have won four in a row to trail Oakland by one game in the AFC West.

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"This is a special team, a special team when you have a bunch of guys that when things aren't going good we get closer instead of pulling apart," Tebow said. "The No. 1 reason we are like that is because we believe in each other, we believe in the coaching staff."

Fox believes in his quarterback.

"Tim has outstanding ability," Fox said. "He proved it at a high level of college football in the SEC at Florida. (The option's) something that he is comfortable with. I think our team has adapted to it."

Tebow led Denver from its 43 after Novak was wide right on the 53-yard field-goal attempt with 2:31 left in overtime. Novak made a 53-yarder in the first quarter, a career-best, and was wide right on a 48-yard try early in the fourth quarter.

Tebow had a 12-yard gain, and Willis McGahee ran 24 yards up the middle to set up Prater's winning kick.

Tebow, the talk of the NFL because he runs the read option and often struggles while passing, carried 22 times for 67 yards - the most carries by a quarterback in a game since at least 1950, according to STATS LLC. He also threw for one score and finished with a better rating than Philip Rivers, 95.4 to 77.1.